August 14, 2013 11:27 PM CDTAugust 14, 2013 11:28 PM CDTHairopoulos: After years of waiting in the wings, Baylor QB Bryce Petty is ready to prove himself

Hairopoulos: After years of waiting in the wings, Baylor QB Bryce Petty is ready to prove himself

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Baylor is riding three straight bowl appearances and a three-year stretch in which it had a better record in Big 12 play (14-12) than Texas (11-15). The Bears are hopeful an improved defense can help take them to the next level as Big 12 contenders — as long as the offense continues to roll as designed with Bryce Petty at quarterback. What else is in store for football fans in Waco? Staff writer Kate Hairopoulos previews the 2013 Bears.

It says something not only about Art Briles’ Baylor
offenses but also about new starting quarterback Bryce Petty that Petty’s
insertion has been relatively ho-hum.

“He’s the next guy up,” senior safety Ahmad Dixon said.

Briles nonchalantly said he expects Petty to break school records, including
the one Nick Florence set last season in passing for 4,309 yards. All Florence
had to live up to was being the guy replacing Robert Griffin III, Baylor’s
Heisman Trophy winner.

Now Petty takes over, with Baylor having ranked No. 2 in total offense in the
Football Bowl Subdivision the last two seasons.

Petty, 6-3, 230, hasn’t seen significant game time since his days at
Midlothian in 2008. That the waiting was finally over hit him after Baylor’s
49-26 victory against UCLA on Dec. 27 in the Holiday Bowl.

“It was on the bus ride back,” Petty said. “Not to say that in a conceited
way, but it was my time now. I’ve waited and earned and grown and now it’s time
to put all of that stuff to the test and prove what I can do.”

Petty, a fourth-year junior who graduated in May with a degree in health
science studies, said he felt comfortable as the starter by the spring game.
Since camp has started for the 2013 season, he’s honed his confidence and quick
decision-making — decisiveness is a necessity in Baylor’s up-tempo offense.

Petty’s transition will be helped by running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco
Martin and a receiving unit led by Tevin Reese. As for Briles’ expecting to see
records broken…

“When I saw that, I got fired up, honestly,” Petty said. “There was no sense
of worry like, ‘Oh gosh, it just got real.’ To me it’s excitement. Now it’s time
to go.”

Baylor is riding three straight bowl appearances and a three-year stretch in
which it had a better record in Big 12 play (14-12) than Texas (11-15). The
Bears are hopeful an improved defense can help take them to the next level as
Big 12 contenders — as long as the offense continues to roll as designed with
Petty at quarterback.

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